Castellana Grotte

The Grotte di Castellana, a karst cave system discovered in 1938 by geologists Franco Anelli and Vito Matarrese, made this modest Apulian town one of Puglia's most visited destinations and gave it the "Grotte" in its name — added officially in 1950. Set on the limestone plateau of the Terra dei Trulli, the town itself dates to a monastic settlement in the 10th century, with a formal feudal foundation in 1171. Beyond the caves, it has a lively café and restaurant scene and hosts festivals throughout the year, including the Festa delle Fanòve on January 11.

• Population14,485
• Nearest water from center 11 km7.0 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 15 km9.2 mi